Poaching in Namibia Declines

Whilst environmentalists around the world hold their breath, with increasing numbers of mega species in Africa being poached for their ivory and horns, Namibia has recorded fewer cases of rhino and elephant poaching this year compared to recent years, the southern African nation’s Environment and Tourism minister said on Monday.

Namibia’s Zambezi Region (used to be called Caprivi Region)

The Zambesia region of Africa, which includes Namibia as the country enjoys a link to the Zambezi river system through the Caprivi Strip ( now called Zambezi Region ) is home to the largest herd of elephant in the world.
Namibia also has one of the largest black rhino populations in the world, but as in neighboring South Africa, it is under threat from the lucrative market in rhino horn, especially in Asia.

So far this year, 27 rhinos had been poached compared to 60 last year and 95 in 2015, Environment and Tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta told reporters. Twenty elephants have been poached since January compared to 101 in 2016 and 49 a year before.

“More resources have been allocated to fight poaching, more government agencies, non-governmental organisations, private sector, international development partners, communities and the general public have come on board to support our efforts to stop poaching,” Shifeta said.